Inhibition of Viral Gene Expression Using Small Interfering RNA

ABSTRACT

The invention provides methods, compositions, and kits comprising small interfering RNA (shRNA or siRNA) that are useful for inhibition of viral-mediated gene expression. Small interfering RNAs as described herein can be used in methods of treatment of HCV infection. ShRNA and siRNA constructs targetING the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) sequence of HCV are described.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of PCT applicationPCT/US2005/032768, filed Sep. 12, 2005, which claims priority under 35U.S.C. §119 from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/608,574, filed Sep.10, 2004, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was made in part during work supported by grant no.5R43AI056611 from the National Institutes of Health. The government mayhave certain rights in the invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to inhibition of viral gene expression, forexample, hepatitis C IRES-mediated gene expression, with smallinterfering RNA (shRNA and siRNA).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Treatment and prevention of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections remains amajor challenge for controlling this worldwide health problem; existingtherapies are only partially effective and no vaccine is currentlyavailable. Hepatitis C (HCV) virus infects more than 170 million peopleworldwide and is the leading cause of liver transplants. Existingtreatments, including ribavirin and pegylated interferon alpha, areeffective only in approximately 50 percent of patients and havesubstantial side effects. The development of more effective HCVtreatments is hampered by the lack of a good small animal model, theinability to stably culture the virus in tissue culture cells, and thehigh viral mutation rate [1-3]. The availability of an HCV repliconsystem has allowed the study of HCV replication, host-cell interactionsand evaluation of anti-viral agents, and more recently, a transgenicchimeric humanized mouse liver model was developed that allows full HCVinfection [4-7]. Moreover, the use of in vivo imaging of HCVIRES-dependent reporter systems has facilitated efficient evaluation ofdelivery and inhibition by anti-HCV agents in mouse liver over multipletime points using the same animals [8].

RNA interference is an evolutionarily conserved pathway that leads todown-regulation of gene expression. The discovery that synthetic shortinterfering RNAs (siRNAs) of about 19-29 base pairs can effectivelyinhibit gene expression in mammalian cells and animals withoutactivating an immune response has led to a flurry of activity to developthese inhibitors as therapeutics [9]. Chemical stabilization of siRNAsresults in increased serum half life [10], suggesting that intravenousadministration may achieve positive therapeutic outcomes if deliveryissues can be overcome. Furthermore, small hairpin RNAs (shRNA) havealso shown robust inhibition of target genes in mammalian cells and canbe easily expressed from bacteriophage (e.g. T7, T3 or SP6) or mammalian(pol III such as U6 or H1 or polII) promoters, making them excellentcandidates for viral delivery [11].

Efforts have been made to find effective nucleic acid-based inhibitorsagainst HCV, as existing treatments are not fully effective (reviewed in[4, 12]). These efforts include traditional antisense oligonucleotides,phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers [8], ribozymes, and morerecently siRNAs. It has been shown that siRNAs can effectively targetHCV in human tissue culture cells [13-19] and in animal systems [20].

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods, compositions, and kits for inhibition ofIRES-mediated gene expression in a virus, e.g., hepatitis C virus (HCV).

For the inhibitory RNA sequences listed in FIGS. 4A and 10 and Table 1(e.g., SEQ ID NOs:19-26), a complementary sequence is implied, as aresequences unrelated to the target that may be appended one or both endsof each strand, for example the 3′ ends, as will be known to one skilledin the art. The inhibitory (antisense recognition) sequences shown inFIG. 4A, FIG. 10, and in Table 1 can be incorporated into either shRNAor siRNA. In the case of shRNA, the sequence shown is additionallylinked to its complementary sequence by a loop that includes nucleotideresidues usually unrelated to the target. An example of such a loop isshown in the shRNA sequences depicted in FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C as well asin FIG. 16A-B. In the case of both siRNAs and shRNAs, the strandcomplementary to the target generally is completely complementary, butin some embodiments, the strand complementary to the target can containmismatches (see, for example, SEQ ID NOs:13, 14, and 15). The sequencecan be varied to target one or more genetic variants or phenotypes ofthe virus being targeted by altering the targeting sequence to becomplementary to the sequence of the genetic variant or phenotype. Thestrand homologous to the target can differ at about 0 to about 5 sitesby having mismatches, insertions, or deletions of from about 1 to about5 nucleotides, as is the case, for example, with naturally occurringmicroRNAs. In some embodiments, a sequence can target multiple viralstrains, e.g., of HCV, although the sequence differs from the target ofa strain at least one nucleotide (e.g., one, two, or three nucleotides)of a targeting sequence

In one aspect, the invention provides a composition comprising at leastone small interfering RNA that is at least partially complementary to,and capable of interacting with a polynucleotide sequence of a virus,such that inhibition of viral gene expression results from theinteraction of the small interfering RNA with the viral target sequence.In one embodiment, the composition includes at least one shRNA, forexample, comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of asequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ IDNO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, and SEQ ID NO:18, or comprising or consistingessentially of a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ IDNO:27, SEQ ID NO:32, and SEQ ID NO:33. In one embodiment, the shRNAcomprises, consists of, or consists essentially of the sequence depictedin SEQ ID NO:12. In another embodiment, the composition includes atleast one siRNA. In one embodiment, the composition includes at leastone siRNA or shRNA, for example, comprising or consisting essentially ofa sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ IDNO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ IDNO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:32, and SEQ ID NO:33. Insome embodiments, the small interfering RNA, e.g., shRNA or siRNA,interacts with a viral sequence of about 19 to about 30 nucleotides, orabout 19 to about 25 nucleotides, for example, any of about 19, 20, 21,22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 nucleotides. In some embodiments,the small interfering RNA binds to a hepatitis C virus sequence. In oneembodiment, the small interfering RNA binds to a sequence within theinternal ribosome entry site (IRES) sequence of a hepatitis C virus, forexample, to the sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO:26 (residues 344-374 ofSEQ ID NO:11). In one embodiment, the hepatitis C virus is HCV genotype1a.

In some embodiments, a composition of the invention comprises apharmaceutically acceptable excipient, for example, water or saline, andoptionally, are provided in a therapeutically effective amount, e.g.,for treating HCV infection in a human or in a non-human primate such asa chimpanzee or new world monkey. In one embodiment, the composition isa pharmaceutical composition comprising, consisting of, or consistingessentially of at least one shRNA or siRNA as described herein and apharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a kit that includes any ofthe compositions described above, and optionally, further includesinstructions for use in a method of inhibiting gene expression in avirus or treating a viral infection in an individual as describedherein. In one embodiment, the kit is for use in a method for treatingHCV infection in an individual, such as a human, and comprises an shRNAcomprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of a sequenceselected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ IDNO:17, and SEQ ID NO:18; or comprising or consisting essentially of asequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ IDNO:32, and SEQ ID NO:33, or an siRNA comprising or consistingessentially of a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ IDNO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ IDNO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:32, and SEQID NO:33, and optionally further comprises instructions for use in amethod of inhibiting gene expression in a hepatitis C virus, such as HCVgenotype 1a, or instructions for use in a method of treating a hepatitisC (such as HCV genotype 1a) viral infection in an individual, such as ahuman, or a non-human primate such as a chimpanzee.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for treatment of aviral infection in an individual, such as a mammal, for example, a humanor non-human primate. The method includes administering to theindividual a therapeutically effective amount of a small interferingRNA, such as shRNA or siRNA, that is at least partially complementary toand capable of binding to a polynucleotide sequence of the virus and apharmaceutically acceptable excipient, such that binding of the smallinterfering RNA to the viral polynucleotide sequence inhibits geneexpression in the virus, e.g., decreases the amount of viral expressionin the individual or decreases the amount of viral expression that wouldbe expected in an individual that did not receive the small interferingRNA. In one embodiment, the viral infection comprises a hepatitis Cvirus, such as HCV genotype 1a. In some embodiments, the virus isselected from the group consisting of hepatitis C genotypes 1a, 1b, 2a,and 2b. In some embodiments, the small interfering RNA comprises,consists of, or consists essentially of any of the shRNA or siRNAsequences described herein as well as sequences located within fivenucleotides of one of the siRNA or shRNA sequences described herein. Insome embodiments, the small interfering RNA is complementary to a viralsequence of about 19 to about 30 nucleotides, or about 19 to about 25nucleotides, for example, any of about 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26,27, 28, 29, or 30 nucleotides. In one embodiment, the virus is ahepatitis C virus, such as HCV genotype 1a. In one embodiment, the smallinterfering RNA binds to a sequence of about 19 to about 25 nucleotideswithin the IRES region of HCV 1a depicted in SEQ ID NO:26. Treatment mayinclude therapy (e.g., amelioration or decrease in at least one symptomof infection) or cure. In some embodiments, the shRNA is administeredparenterally, for example, by intravenous injection or infusion.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of inhibiting geneexpression in a virus, comprising contacting viral RNA or viral mRNAwith a small interfering RNA or introducing a small interfering RNA intoa virus-containing cell, such that the small interfering RNA, e.g.,shRNA or siRNA, contains a sequence that is at least partiallycomplementary to a polynucleotide sequence of the virus and capable ofinhibiting viral gene expression, for example, by inducing cleavage ofviral polynucleotide sequences. In some embodiments, the smallinterfering RNA comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of anyone of the shRNA or siRNA sequences described herein. In someembodiments, the small interfering RNA binds to a viral sequence ofabout 19 to about 30 nucleotides, or about 19 to about 25 nucleotides,for example, any of about 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or30 nucleotides. In one embodiment, the virus is a hepatitis C virus,such as HCV 1a. In one embodiment, the small interfering RNA interactswith a sequence of about 19 to about 30 nucleotides within the IRESregion of HCV genotype 1a depicted in SEQ ID NO:26 as well as sequenceslocated within five nucleotides of one of the siRNA or shRNA sequencesdescribed herein. In yet other embodiments, at least two smallinterfering RNAs are introduced into a cell.

The invention also relates to an RNA sequence that consists of (a) afirst RNA sequence, such that the first RNA sequence is a sequenceillustrated in FIG. 10 or FIG. 16A-B, e.g., SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:35,SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:40,SEQ ID NO:41, SEQ ID NO:42, SEQ ID NO:43, SEQ ID NO:44, SEQ ID NO:45,SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:47, SEQ ID NO:48, SEQ ID NO:49, SEQ ID NO:50,SEQ ID NO:51; SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:53, SEQ ID NO:54, SEQ ID NO:55,SEQ ID NO:56, or a sequence that differs from a foregoing sequence byone, two, or three nucleotides; (b) a second RNA sequence that is acomplement of the first sequence; (c) a loop sequence positioned betweenthe first and second nucleic acid sequence, the loop sequence consistingof 4-10 nucleotides; and (d) optionally, a two nucleotide overhang. Insome embodiments of the invention, the first RNA sequence is SEQ IDNO:34, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ IDNO:39, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:41, SEQ ID NO:42, SEQ ID NO:43, SEQ IDNO:44, SEQ ID NO:45, SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:47, SEQ ID NO:48, SEQ IDNO:49, SEQ ID NO:50, SEQ ID NO:51; SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:53, SEQ IDNO:54, SEQ ID NO:55, or SEQ ID NO:56. The RNA sequence can, in somecases, include at least one modified nucleotide. The loop sequence of anRNA sequence of the invention can be, e.g., four nucleotides, fivenucleotides, six nucleotides, seven nucleotides, eight nucleotides, ninenucleotides, ten nucleotides, or at least ten nucleotides. In someembodiments, the RNA sequence is an shRNA and includes an HCV targetsequence as described herein and a complementary sequence, linked by aloop that includes at least one non-nucleotide molecule. In certainembodiments, the loop of the RNA sequence is 3′ to a sense strand and 5′to the complementary antisense strand of the shRNA. In otherembodiments, the loop of the RNA sequence is 3′ to an antisense strandand 5′ to the complementary sense strand of the shRNA. In some cases,the RNA sequence includes a two nucleotide overhang and the twonucleotide overhang is a 3′UU. In some cases, the overhang is onenucleotide, two nucleotides, three nucleotides, or more. In some cases,the first RNA sequence is any one of SEQ ID NOs:57-79, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, or SEQ ID NO:18. In some cases, the RNA sequenceis a sequence illustrated in FIG. 16A-B.

The invention also relates to a DNA sequence that includes a sequenceencoding an RNA sequence disclosed herein (e.g., an RNA sequenceillustrated in FIG. 10 or FIG. 16A-B). The invention also includes anexpression vector comprising such a DNA sequence. Also included is aretroviral vector that includes such a DNA sequence, e.g., a retroviralvector that, upon infection of a cell with the vector, can produce aprovirus that can express an RNA sequence of the invention, for example,without limitation, an shRNA sequence illustrated in FIG. 16A-B.

In some aspects, the invention relates to a composition that includes anRNA sequence as disclosed herein (for example, without limitation, anshRNA illustrated by FIG. 16A-B) and a pharmaceutically acceptableexcipient. In some embodiments, the composition comprises a vector asdisclosed herein and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. In certainembodiments, a composition of the invention includes at least two RNAsequences as disclosed herein.

In another aspect, the invention includes a method of inhibitingexpression or activity of a hepatitis C virus. The method includesproviding a cell that can express a hepatitis C virus, and contactingthe cell with an RNA sequence as disclosed herein (non-limiting examplesof which are illustrated in FIG. 16A-B). The cell can be in a mammal,e.g., a human or a non-human primate such as a chimpanzee. In certainembodiments, the cell is contacted with at least two different RNAsequences.

In some aspects, the invention relates to a method that includesidentifying a subject infected with or suspected of being infected witha hepatitis C virus, providing to the subject a therapeuticallyeffective amount of a composition containing one or more different RNAsequences disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method alsoincludes determining whether the viral load of the subject is decreasedsubsequent to providing the composition to the subject. In someembodiments, the method also includes determining whether at least oneviral protein or viral nucleic acid sequence is decreased in the subjectsubsequent to providing the composition to the subject.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materialssimilar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in thepractice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods andmaterials are described below. All publications, patent applications,patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated byreference in their entirety. In addition, the materials, methods, andexamples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedetailed description, drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a representation of the IRES nucleotide sequence of hepatitisC genotype 1a (see GenBank Accession No. AJ242654). Nucleotides of atarget region, 344-374, are underlined. Various regions (indicated inbold) have been successfully targeted by inhibitors, includingHeptazyme™ ribozyme (siRNA.com; positions 189-207), Chiron 5U5 siRNA[25] (positions 286-304), ISIS 14803 phosphorothioate antisenseoligonucleotide [34] (positions 330-349), Mizusawa 331 siRNA [15](positions 322-340) and a phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer [8, 35](positions 344-363). A more complete list of siRNAs that have beentested to down-regulate the HCV IRES and other HCV elements can be foundin [2, 3].

FIG. 1B is a representation of RNA sequences of shRNA HCVa-wt (shRNA1)and mutated variants thereof resulting from pol III transcription from aU6 promoter of corresponding DNA templates. Two base pairs (underlined)of HCVa-wt were altered to create versions of HCVa-wt containing 1(HCVSNP1 or HCVSNP2) or 2 mismatches (HCVa-mut) shRNAs as shown.

FIG. 1C is a representation of the sequences of shRNAs HCVb-wt (sh9),HCVc-wt (sh10), and HCVd-wt (sh11).

FIG. 1D is a representation of the secondary structure of the HCV IRESwith indicated target sites for shRNA HCVa-wt, HCVb-wt, HCVc-wt, andHCVd-wt.

FIG. 1E is a schematic representation of the pCDNA3/HCV IRES dualluciferase reporter construct used to produce the HCV IRES target aswell as the EMCV IRES control, in which the IRES fromencephalomyocarditis virus replaces the HCV IRES and therefore lacks anytarget for the HCV-directed shRNAs. In each case, firefly luciferaseexpression is dependent on initiation of translation from the IRESsequence, whereas Renilla luciferase is expressed in a cap-dependentmanner.

FIG. 1F is a bar graph depicting the results of a screen of shRNAs forthe ability to inhibit HCV IRES-mediated gene expression in 293FT cells.293FT cells were cotransfected with pCDNA3/HCV IRES dual luciferasereporter construct, pSEAP2 (as a transfection and specificity control),and an shRNA (at 1 nM) in a well of a 24-well tissue culture plate.Plasmid pUC18 was added to provide a total of 800 ng nucleic acid perwell. 48 hours post-transfection, cells were lysed and fireflyluciferase activity was measured by a luminometer. All data are theresults of individual, independent experiments performed in triplicate,and normalized to SEAP.

FIG. 2A is a bar graph depicting the results of experiments testinginhibition of HCV-IRES driven gene expression in 293FT cells that werecotransfected with dual luciferase reporter and SEAP expressing plasmidsand 1 pmole of in vitro transcribed shRNAs. The target plasmid waspCDNA3/HCV IRES dual luciferase reporter (HCV IRES, as shown in FIG.1E). Firefly luciferase activity measured as described in Example 1.Firefly luciferase and SEAP activities were normalized to 100.

FIG. 2B is a bar graph depicting the results of experiments testing HCVversus EMCB inhibition in 293FT cells. The data are presented asluciferase activity divided by SEAP activity normalized to 100.

FIG. 2C is a bar graph depicting the results of experimentsdemonstrating the effect of single-base mismatches on potency of shRNAs.Experimental conditions were as described for FIG. 2A. SNP1 and SNP2contained mutated base pairs as shown in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2D is a line graph depicting the resulting of experiments testingdose response of inhibition of HCV-IRES-driven gene expression byHCVa-wt and mutated (HCVa-mut) or control (229) shRNAs. Experimentalconditions were as described for FIG. 2A. The data are represented asluciferase divided by SEAP normalized to 100. All data are the resultsof individual, independent experiments performed in triplicate.

FIG. 2E is a line graph depicting the resulting of experiments testingdose response of HCVa-wt, HCVa-mut), and 229 shRNAs on gene expressionfrom a dual-luciferase reporter lacking shRNA target sites. Theprocedure was as described for FIG. 2D except target was fireflyluciferase driven by EMCV IRES instead of HCV IRES.

FIG. 2F is a reproduction of a Northern blot analysis of co-transfected293FT cells treated as follows; 10 μg of total RNA isolated from cellstransfected with no inhibitor (lane 1), 229 (lane 2) HCVa-wt (lane 3),or HCVa-mut (lane 4) were separated by denaturing gel electrophoresis,transferred to membrane and hybridized sequentially to ³²P-labeled fLuc,SEAP, or elongation factor 1A (EF1A) cDNA probes. The RNA blot wasexposed to a storage phosphor screen for visualization and quantitation(BioRad FX Molecular Imager).

FIG. 3A is a line graph depicting the results of experiments testingdose response to HCVa-wt and HCVa-mut shRNAs using the human hepatocytecell line, Huh7. Procedures were as described for FIG. 2D, except thatHuh7 cells were used.

FIG. 3B is a line graph depicting the results of experimentsdemonstrating that HCVa-wt shRNA does not inhibit a similar targetlacking the HCV IRES. Cells were transfected as in FIG. 3A except thatpCDNA3/EMCV IRES dual luciferase reporter (EMCV IRES) was added in placeof pCDNA3/HCV IRES dual luciferase reporter (HCV IRES). All data arepresented as luciferase activity divided by SEAP. All data weregenerated from individual, independent experiments performed intriplicate.

FIG. 4A depicts sequences of seven 19 base pair viral recognitionsequences of synthetic siRNAs and shRNAs contained within the 25nucleotide target site of HCV genotype 1A (SEQ ID NO:26) and analysis oftheir purity on 10% native polyacrylamide gel stained with ethidiumbromide. siRNAs: sense and antisense strands contained 3′-UU overhangs;shRNAs: loop sequences and 3′, 5′-end overhangs were identical to thoseof the 25 base pair shRNAs.

FIG. 4B is a bar graph depicting the results of experiments in which RNAinhibitors (siRNAs and shRNAs) were assayed for inhibition of HCVIRES-mediated gene expression at an inhibitor concentration 1 nM in 293FT cells.

FIG. 4C is a bar graph depicting the results of experiments in which RNAinhibitors were assayed for inhibition of HCV IRES-mediated geneexpression at an inhibitor concentration of 0.1 nM in 293 FT cells.

FIG. 5A is a reproduction of IVIS images of mice in which dualluciferase HCV IRES reporter plasmid (10 μg) and SEAP (added to controlfor injection efficiency and nonspecific inhibition) were co-injectedinto the tail veins of mice as described in Example 1 with 100 μg of theindicated HCV shRNA or control 229 shRNA) directly or in the form of 100μg of pol III expression plasmids expressing shRNA (or pUC18 plasmid ascontrol). At various time-points (24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 and 100 hours)post-injection, luciferin was administered intraperitoneally, and themice were imaged using the IVIS in vivo imaging system. Images are ofrepresentative mice from the 84 hour time point.

FIG. 5B is a graph depicting the quantitated results of experimentsdescribed for FIG. 5A in which there was direct delivery of RNA.Quantitation was performed using ImageQuant™ software. Each time-pointrepresents the average of 4-5 mice. At the 96 hour time point, the micewere bled and the amount of SEAP activity determined by pNPP assay asdescribed in Example 1. The quantitated data are presented as luciferasedivided by SEAP activity, normalized to pUC18 control mice (100%, noerror bars shown on pUC18 control for clarity; error bars are similar tothe others shown).

FIG. 6 is a bar graph depicting the results of experiments in whichshRNA and phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer inhibition of HCVIRES-mediated reporter gene expression in mice was compared. Mice wereco-injected as described in experiments for FIG. 5 with dual luciferaseHCV IRES reporter plasmid and pSEAP with 100 μg of the indicated HCVshRNA inhibitors or 1 nmole of a morpholino oligonucleotide previouslyshown to inhibit HCV IRES expression construct [8]. The mice were imagedat various times (12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 144 hours)post-treatment. Data shown are for the 48 hour time point. Thequantitated data are presented as luciferase and SEAP activities,normalized to pUC18 control (no addition) mice. The results presentedare from 3-5 mice per construct.

FIG. 7 is a graph depicting the results of experiments in which BHK-21cells were transiently transfected with plasmids expressing aninhibitory shRNA targeting the nsp-1 gene. Twenty-four hours aftertransfection, cells were infected with 10 μl of replication -proficientGFP-expressing Semliki Forest virus (SFV-GFP-VA7; multiplicity ofinfection (MOI) sufficient for about 100% infection) and assayed forvirus-mediated GFP expression by flow cytometry 24 hours afterinfection. The level of siRNA-mediated suppression was about 35%.Labels: Nsp 1. shRNA targeting Nsp-1 gene (nsp-1#2); empty vector, pU6;naive, uninfected BHK cells.

FIG. 8 is a bar graph depicting the results of experiments in whichinhibition of replication-deficient SFV (SFV-PD713P-GFP) by shRNAs wasinvestigated. BHK-21 cells were transiently transfected with plasmidsexpressing inhibitor shRNAs. Forty-six hours after transfection, cellswere infected with SFV-GFP virus at an MOI of 5 with 8% PEG inserum-free media for one hour. Then complete media was added and cellswere incubated at 37° C. overnight. Cells were analyzed by flowcytometry at 9, 24, 32, 99, and 125 hours after infection. For clarity,only three time points are shown (9, 24 and 32 hours). The amount ofinhibition of each shRNA was normalized to capsid shRNA. Capsid mRNA isnot present in this SFV-GFP replication-deficient virus and thereforecapsid shRNA should have no effect on GFP expression. The transfectionefficiency for the shRNA expression constructs for this experiment wasabout 70%, suggesting that actual viral inhibition is significantlyhigher than the levels indicated. The fifth set of bars (Mixed) refersto a mixture of shRNAs targeting nsp 1-4 and capsid.

FIG. 9 is a line graph depicting the results of experiments testing HCVreplicon inhibition by shRNAs.

FIG. 10 is a table depicting sequences and results of a screen of shRNAsfor the ability to inhibit HCV IRES-mediated gene expression in 293FTcells. Cells were cotransfected (using Lipofectamine™ 2000) withpCDNA3/HCV IRES dual luciferase reporter construct (40 ng), pSEAP2 (25ng, as a transfection and specificity control), and an shRNA (at 1 or 5nM) in a well of a 48-well tissue culture plate. Plasmid pUC18 was addedto provide a total of 400 ng nucleic acid per well. Forty-eight hourspost-transfection, the supernatants were removed for SEAP analysis,cells were lysed, and firefly luciferase activity was measured by aluminometer. All data are the results of at least two independentexperiments performed in triplicate. SEAP levels were uniform in allsamples. Control experiments to assay specificity of shRNAs wereperformed on mutated pCDNA3/HCV IRES dual luciferase reporter constructas well, where C340 (in IRES) was substituted with U.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic representation of 3′-terminal sequence of theHCV IRES with segments targeted by shRNAs. Mutation C340U (used to assayspecificity of shRNAs) is indicated.

FIG. 12A is a diagrammatic representation of 5′-termini of HCV IRES andtargeting positions for six 19-bp shRNAs.

FIG. 12B is a bar graph depicting the results of a screen of shRNAs forthe ability to inhibit HCV IRES-mediated gene expression in 293FT cells.Experiments were conducted as for FIG. 10; shRNA concentration, 1 nM.

FIG. 13A is a diagrammatic representation of the sequences of testedvariants of the depicted 25 base pair shRNA, with the various loop sizesand sequences, as well as 3′-termini that were tested.

FIG. 13B is a bar graph depicting the results of a screen of shRNAsdepicted in FIG. 13A for the ability to inhibit HCV IRES-mediated geneexpression in 293FT cells. Experiments were conducted as for those ofFIG. 10. shRNA concentration, 1 nM. (shRNA sequences are listed in FIG.16A-B)

FIG. 14A is a diagrammatic representation of the sequences of testedvariants of the depicted 19-bp shRNA with the various loop sizes andsequences tested, as well as 3′ termini that were tested.

FIG. 14B is a bar graph depicting the results of a screen of shRNAsdepicted in FIG. 14A for the ability to inhibit HCV IRES-mediated geneexpression in 293FT cells. Experiments were conducted as described forFIG. 10. shRNA concentration, 1 nM. (shRNA sequences are listed in FIG.16A-B)

FIG. 15 is a bar graph depicting the results of a screen of shRNAs (andsiRNAs) for the inhibitory activity in the HCV replicon system. Humanhepatocytes (AVA5, a derivative of the Huh7 cell line) stably expressingHCV subgenomic replicons, were transfected with RNA inhibitors, and theamount of HCV expression was determined. A range of concentrations wastested and the concentration of sh/siRNA that resulted in 50% inhibition(EC50) was determined. Dark and light bars represent the results of twoindependent experiments.

FIG. 16A-B is a table depicting shRNA sequences targeting HCV IRES asindicated. ShRNA loops are underlined. Nucleotides indicated by low-caseare non-complementary to the target.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides compositions, methods, and kits for inhibitingviral (e.g., hepatitis C) gene expression and/or treating a viralinfection in a mammal.

RNA interference offers a novel therapeutic approach for treating viralinfections. The present invention provides small interfering RNAs (e.g.,shRNAs and siRNAs) that target a viral sequence and inhibit (i.e.,reduce or eliminate) viral gene expression, and methods of using suchsmall interfering RNAs for treatment of a viral infection in a mammal,such as a human. In some embodiments, the small interfering RNAconstructs of the invention inhibit gene expression of a virus byinducing cleavage of viral polynucleotide sequences within or near thetarget sequence that is recognized by the antisense sequence of thesmall interfering RNA.

As used herein, “small interfering RNA” refers to an RNA construct thatcontains one or more short sequences that are at least partiallycomplementary to and can interact with a polynucleotide sequence of avirus. Interaction may be in the form of a direct binding betweencomplementary (antisense) sequences of the small interfering RNA andpolynucleotide sequences of the viral target, or in the form of anindirect interaction via enzymatic machinery (e.g., a protein complex)that allows the antisense sequence of the small interfering RNA torecognize the target sequence. In some cases, recognition of the targetsequence by the small interfering RNA results in cleavage of viralsequences within or near the target site that is recognized by therecognition (antisense) sequence of the small interfering RNA. The smallinterfering RNA can exclusively contain ribonucleotide residues, or thesmall interfering RNA can contain one or more modified residues,particularly at the ends of the small interfering RNA or on the sensestrand of the small interfering RNA. The term “small interfering RNA” asused herein encompasses shRNA and siRNA, both of which are understoodand known to those in the art to refer to RNA constructs with particularcharacteristics and types of configurations.

As used herein, “shRNA” refers to an RNA sequence comprising adouble-stranded region and a loop region at one end forming a hairpinloop. The double-stranded region is typically about 19 nucleotides toabout 29 nucleotides in length on each side of the stem, and the loopregion is typically about three to about ten nucleotides in length (and3′- or 5′-terminal single-stranded overhanging nucleotides areoptional). One example of such an shRNA, HCVa-wt shRNA, has a 25 basepair double-stranded region (SEQ ID NO:12), a ten nucleotide loop, a GGextension on the 5′ end, and a UU extension on the 3′ end. Additionalexamples of suitable shRNAs for use in, e.g., inhibiting HCV expression,are provided throughout the specification, e.g., FIG. 16A-B.

As used herein, “siRNA” refers to an RNA molecule comprising adouble-stranded region with a 3′ overhang of nonhomologous residues ateach end. The double-stranded region is typically about 18 to about 30nucleotides in length, and the overhang may be of any length ofnonhomologous residues, for example, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,13, 14, 15, 16 or more nucleotides. The siRNA can also comprise two ormore segments of 19-30 base pair separated by unpaired regions. Withoutcommitting to any specific theory, the unpaired regions may function toprevent activation of innate immunity pathways. One example of such ansiRNA is HCVa-wt siRNA, which has a 25 base pair double-stranded region(SEQ ID NO:12), and a UU extension on each 3′ end.

In one embodiment, a small interfering RNA as described herein comprisesa sequence complementary to a sequence of the internal ribosome entrysite (IRES) element of hepatitis C (“HCV”). In one embodiment, the virusis HCV genotype 1a.

SiRNA gene inhibition has been shown to robustly inhibit gene expressionin a number of mammalian systems. Due to its high level of secondarystructure, the HCV IRES has been suggested to be a poor target forsiRNAs or shRNAs. Mizusawa reported, however, successful targeting ofthe HCV IRES in 293 and Huh7 tissue culture cells, reporting 50 and 74percent knock-down of gene expression, respectively. Similarly, Seo andcoworkers [25] reported the ability of 100 nM siRNA to inhibit HCVreplication (about 85% knockdown) in 5-2 Huh7 cells. It has now beendemonstrated as described herein that small interfering RNAs (shRNAs andsiRNAs) directed against the 3′ end of the HCV IRES, including anddownstream of the AUG translation start site, can induce 96 percentknockdown of HCV IRES-dependent luciferase expression at 0.3 nM in 293FTcells and 75 percent knockdown at 0.1 nM in Huh7 cells (see FIGS. 2D and3A). Furthermore, direct delivery of shRNA to mouse liver was shown topotently inhibit HCV IRES-dependent reporter expression. This is thefirst demonstration of RNAi-mediated gene inhibition in an animal modelfollowing direct delivery of an RNA hairpin (not expressed in vivo froma plasmid or viral vector). The effectiveness of shRNA delivereddirectly to mouse liver following hydrodynamic injection was surprisingin view of the high levels of nucleases found in blood. The observationthat these shRNAs effectively knocked down gene expression in liverindicates that these shRNA inhibitors (1) are very potent and not neededat high levels in mouse liver to cause gene inhibition, (2) aredelivered sufficiently rapidly to the liver, e.g., before they arecleaved by nucleases in quantities that prevent an inhibitory effect, or(3) are inherently stable to nuclease degradation (or a combination ofthese characteristics).

Reports suggest that in vitro-synthesized transcripts from bacteriophagepromoters potently induce interferon (IFN) alpha and beta due to thepresence of an unnatural 5′ triphosphate [26]. Furthermore, shRNAsexpressed from pol III expression vectors may also induce IFN [27]. Howthis interferon induction would affect use of shRNAs in a clinicalsetting for HCV infection is unclear. Current HCV therapy includestreatment with interferon alpha, suggesting that if interferon isinduced by shRNA, it may have a positive effect. To date, nointerferon-related side effects appear to have been reported in animalsfollowing administration of RNAi [3]. Additional concerns have beenraised regarding off-target effects of siRNA as well as potentialcytotoxic effects when siRNAs or shRNAs are delivered by lentiviralvectors [28].

The present invention also relates to methods of testing siRNAs andshRNAs targeting HCV IRES sequences to identify those sequences havingsufficient activity (e.g., the highest activity among a selected groupof such sequences) to be a candidate for use as a treatment. Testing canalso include screening for small interfering activities havingundesirable off-target effects or general cytotoxic effects. Off-targeteffects include, without limitation knockdown of nontargeted genes,inhibition of expression of non-targeted genes, and competition withnatural microRNA pathways (Birmingham et al., Nat. Methods. 20063(3):199-204; Grimm et al., Nature 2006 441(7092):537-541). Methods ofidentifying cytotoxic effects are known in the art (for example, Marqueset al., Nat. Biotechnol. 2006 24(5):559-565; Robbins et al., Nat.Biotechnol. 2006 24(5):566-571).

The IRES region in the HCV 5′-UTR is highly conserved (92-100% identical[15, 29-31]) and has several segments that appear to be invariant,making the IRES a prime target for nucleic acid-based inhibitors. Theregion around the AUG translation initiation codon is particularlyhighly conserved, being invariant at positions +8 to −65 (with theexception of a single nucleotide variation at position −2) as observedin over 81 isolates from various geographical locations [32]. Despitethe conservation of sequence in the IRES motif, it is unlikely thattargeting a single sequence, even if highly conserved, will besufficient to prevent escape mutants. RNA viruses are known to have highmutation rates due to the high error rate of the RNA polymerase and thelack of proofreading activity of that enzyme. On average, each time HCVRNA is replicated one error is incorporated into the new strand. Thiserror rate is compounded by the prodigious production of viral particlesin an active infection (approximately a trillion per day in achronically infected patient) [33]. Therefore, in some embodiments ofthe invention, several conserved sites are targeted or, alternatively,shRNAs as described herein are used as a component of a combinationtreatment, such as with ribaviran and/or pegylated interferon. Asdemonstrated herein, a single mismatch does not completely block shRNAactivity (see Example 2; FIG. 2D); thus each different shRNA may havesome activity against a limited number of mutations. Accordingly, theinvention includes methods of inhibiting HCV expression using an shRNAthat may include a mismatch to the target sequence. The invention alsoincludes methods of inhibiting HCV expression by administering at leasttwo different shRNAs targeting an HCV IRES, such that the shRNAs differin the targeting sequences.

McCaffrey and colleagues reported that a phosphorodiamidate morpholinooligonucleotide directed against a conserved HCV IRES site at the AUGtranslation initiation site potently inhibits reporter gene expression[8]. The same morpholino inhibitor was used for comparison against theshRNA inhibition described herein. It was found that both the morpholineand the shRNA targeting the conserved HCV IRES site potently androbustly inhibited IRES-dependent gene expression. Four mutations in themorpholino were required to block activity, whereas two changes in theshRNA were sufficient, suggesting greater shRNA specificity. Thispotential advantage, coupled with the lack of unnatural residues in theshRNA inhibitor and presumably fewer resultant side effects, arebalanced by the increased stability of the morpholino oligomer.

A dual reporter luciferase plasmid was used in which firefly luciferase(fLuc) expression was dependent on the HCV IRES [24]. Expression of theupstream renilla luciferase is not HCV IRES-dependent and is translatedin a Cap-dependent process. Direct transfection of HCV IRES shRNAs, oralternatively shRNAs expressed from polIII-promoter vectors, efficientlyblocked HCV IRES-mediated fLuc expression in human 293FT and Huh7 cells.Control shRNAs containing a double mutation had little or no effect onfLuc expression, and shRNAs containing only a single mutation showedpartial inhibition. These shRNAs were also evaluated in a mouse modelwhere DNA constructs were delivered to cells in the liver byhydrodynamic transfection via the tail vein. The dual luciferaseexpression plasmid, the shRNAs, and secreted alkaline phosphataseplasmid were used to transfect cells in the liver, and the animals wereimaged at time points over 12 to 96 hours. In vivo imaging revealed thatHCV IRES shRNA directly, or alternatively expressed from apolIII-plasmid vector, inhibited HCV IRES-dependent reporter geneexpression; mutant or irrelevant shRNAs had little or no effect. Theseresults indicate that shRNAs, delivered as RNA or expressed from viralor nonviral vectors, are useful as effective antivirals for the controlof HCV and related viruses.

Assay of three additional shRNAs targeting different sites on HCV IRESdomain IV revealed another potent shRNA, HCVd-wt, whose target positionis shifted six nucleotides from that of HCVa-wt. HCVb-wt and HCVc-wtwere much less efficient inhibitors.

To further investigate local sequence effects on potency, seven invitro-transcribed shRNA constructs comprising a 19 base pair sequencecomplementary to a sequence of the HCV IRES and the correspondingsynthetic siRNA comprising the same 19 base pair sequences, targetingall possible positions within the 25 base pair site of HCVa-wt(344-368), were assayed for inhibitory activity. A 25 base pairsynthetic siRNA corresponding to HCVa-wt shRNA was also tested. All ofthe tested constructs exhibited a high level of activity. In general, 19base pair siRNAs were more potent than 19 base pair shRNAs. The mostpotent, siHCV19-3 was effective at 1 nM (>90% inhibition), 0.1 nM (about90% inhibition) and even at a concentration of 0.01 nM (about 40%inhibition). Thus, 19-25 base pair shRNAs and siRNAs designed to targetthe region 344-374 on the HCV IRES are generally potent inhibitors ofHCV expression, with some local differences.

Small hairpin RNAs of the invention can, optionally, include structuresresulting in strong noncovalent bonds between the sense and antisensestrands of the shRNA. Examples of such noncovalent bonds includecross-links mediated by metal ions. Such cross-links can be formedbetween natural or modified nucleotide residues, including, for example,modified bases, sugars, and terminal groups, as described in Kazakov andHecht 2005, Nucleic Acid-Metal Ion Interactions. In: King, R. B. (ed.),Encyclopedia of Inorganic Chemistry. 2nd ed., Wiley, Chichester, vol.VI, pp. 3690-3724, e.g., section 5.4.3. Additional non-limiting examplesof variants of such bonds are found patent application WO 99/09045(US2006074041; e.g., FIG. 10. In general the location of cross-linkablenucleotide residues is at the ends of the complementary RNA strands thatlie in close proximity upon duplex formation. The addition of certainmetal ions (or metal ion coordination compounds) can result in thecross-linking of functional groups that have strong affinity for thesemetal ions, such as —SH, —SCH3, phosphorothioates, imidazolides,o-phenanthrolines, and others. These modified nucleotides are introducedduring chemical synthesis of the sense and antisense RNA strands. Themodified nucleotides in sense and antisense strands may either form basepairs or be part of 1-3 nucleotide overhangs.

Targeting Sequences

Examples of targeting sequences are provided throughout thespecification. Non-limiting examples of targeting sequences are providedin, for example, Table 1 and FIG. 10. Non-limiting examples of shRNAsand siRNAs incorporating targeting sequences are found throughout thespecification, e.g., in FIG. 1 and FIG. 16A-B.

Loops

Effects of size and sequence of loop region of the shRNA were alsoinvestigated. The loop region of the shRNA stem-loop can be as small astwo to three nucleotides and does not have a clear upper limit on size;generally, a loop is between four and nine nucleotides, and is generallya sequence that does not cause unintended effects, e.g., by beingcomplementary to a non-target gene. Highly structured loop sequencessuch as a GNRA tetraloop can be used in the loop region (e.g., as theloop) in an shRNA. The loop can be at either end of the molecule; thatis, the sense strand can be either 5′ or 3′ relative to the loop. Also,a noncomplementary duplex region (approximately one to six base pairs,for example, four CG base pairs) can be placed between the targetingduplex and the loop, for example to serve as a “CG clamp” to strengthenduplex formation. At least 19 base pairs of target-complementary duplexare needed if a noncomplementary duplex is used.

A loop structure can also include reversible linkages such as S—S bonds,which can be formed by oxidation of —SH groups introduced intonucleotide residues, e.g., as described in (Earnshaw et al., J. Mol.Biol., 1997, 274: 197-212; Sigurdsson et al. (Thiol-Containing RNA forthe Study of Structure and Function of Ribozymes. METHODS: A Companionto Methods in Enzymology, 1999, 18: 71-77). A non-limiting example ofthe location for nucleotide residues with SH groups is at the ends ofthe complementary RNA strands that lie in close proximity upon duplexformation. Such modified nucleotides are introduced during chemicalsynthesis of the sense and antisense RNA strands of the smallinterfering RNA. The modified nucleotides in sense and antisense strandsmay either form base pairs or form non-complementary overhangs of one tothree nucleotides.

Additional non-limiting examples of loops and their applications, e.g.,in shRNA and siRNA targeting HCV, can be found in the Examples.

Termini

The 3′ terminus of an shRNA as described herein can have anon-target-complementary overhang of two or more nucleotides, forexample, UU or dTdT, however, the overhangs can be any nucleotideincluding chemically modified nucleotides that, for example, promoteenhanced nuclease resistance. In other embodiments, there are one orzero nucleotides overhanging on the 3′ end.

The 5′ end can have a noncomplementary extension, e.g., two Gs (as shownin FIG. 1B), a GAAAAAA sequence, or only one or zero nucleotidesextending beyond the target-complementary duplex region. In the sequenceshown in FIG. 1B, the two 5′ G's are included primarily for ease oftranscription from a T7 promoter.

Additional Features

Additional features that can optionally be included in shRNAs used toinhibit HCV expression and that are encompassed by the invention arelength variations between about 19 base pairs and about 30 base pairsfor the target complementary duplex region, small shifts in the sequencetargeted (generally zero to about two nucleotides, and shifts as largeas about ten nucleotides in either direction along the target may liewithin the targetable region). Similarly, mismatches are also tolerated:about one to about two in the antisense strand and about one to aboutnine in the sense strand (the latter destabilizing the hairpin duplexbut not affecting the strength of binding of the antisense strand to thetarget; the number tolerated depends partly on the length of thetarget-complementary duplex. As described herein, an shRNA having atleast seven G-U mismatches within a 29 base pair target-complementaryduplex region can be used successfully for inhibiting HCV expression,e.g., using sequence targeting the HCV IRES. Note that the two mutationsshown in FIG. 1B largely abrogated inhibition, but other mutants havingmutations in other positions, particularly if they are closely spacedand/or near the end, can be better tolerated. Certain variations areknown in the art or demonstrated in the instant application.

Vectors

Suitable vectors for producing shRNAs and siRNAs are described hereinand are known in the art. In non-limiting examples, shRNAs can beexpressed using Pol III promoters such as U6 or H1, in the context ofvectors derived from adeno-associated virus or lentiviruses. The humanU6 nuclear RNA promoter and human H1 promoter are among the pol IIIpromoters for expressing shRNAs.

One feature that is generally desirable in a vector is relativelyprolonged transgene expression. Lentiviral vectors are able to transducenondividing cells and maintain sustained long-term expression oftransgene. Adeno-associated virus serotype 8 is considered safe and ischaracterized by prolonged transgene expression.

Candidate shRNA and siRNA

In some cases, one or more small interfering RNAs are identified ashaving activity for inhibiting a targeted virus such as HCV. Additionaltests can be carried out to further characterize the suitability of suchRNAs for use, e.g., for inhibiting HCV expression in an animal. Animalmodels can be used for such testing. One non-limiting examples includesa mouse model, e.g., as illustrated in Example 3 (infra). Other animalmodels suitable for testing an treatment for HCV are known in the art,for example, using chimpanzees.

Methods

The invention relates to methods of inhibiting gene expression in avirus, comprising contacting the virus with a small interfering RNA,such as a shRNA or siRNA as described herein that comprises a sequencethat is at least partially complementary to, and is capable ofinteracting with a polynucleotide sequence of the virus. In someembodiments, contacting the virus comprises introducing the smallinterfering RNA into a cell that contains the virus, i.e., a virusinfected cell. “Inhibiting gene expression” as used herein refers to areduction (i.e., decrease in level) or elimination of expression of atleast one gene of a virus. For example, reduction in expression comparedto corresponding cell or animal infected with the virus. In someembodiments, inhibition of gene expression is accomplished by cleavageof the viral target sequence to which the small interfering RNA binds.Gene expression can be assayed by assaying viral RNA or viral protein.In some cases, efficacy of a method (for example, a treatment using acomposition described herein) is assayed by evaluating an infectedanimal for a decrease in symptoms or a change (e.g., decrease) in theexpression or activity of a protein associated with viral infection,e.g., a viral protein such as p24, or a host protein such as aninterferon.

The invention also relates to methods for treating a viral infection orfor treating a subject suspected of being infected (including a subjectexposed to virus for prophylactic treatment) in a mammal, comprisingadministering to the mammal a composition comprising a therapeuticallyeffective amount of a small interfering RNA, such as a shRNA or siRNA asdescribed herein that includes a sequence that is at least partiallycomplementary to, and capable of interacting with (e.g., hybridizing tounder physiological conditions, or effecting RNAi activity), apolynucleotide sequence of the virus, e.g., the IRES sequence of HCV. Insome embodiments, the mammal is human. In one embodiment, the mammal isa human and the viral infection is a HCV infection, such as an infectionwith HCV genotype 1a, and the small interfering RNA comprises a sequencethat is at least complementary to a sequence of the IRES of the HCV.

As used herein, a “therapeutically effective amount” is an amount of asmall interfering RNA that can render a desired therapeutic outcome(e.g., reduction or elimination of a viral infection). A therapeuticallyeffective amount may be administered in one or more doses. Non-limitingexamples of doses are about 0.1 mg/kg to about 50 mg/kg, e.g., about 1to about 5 mg/kg. Suitable methods of delivery are known in the art andinclude, for example, intravenous administration (e.g., via a peripheralvein of via a catheter). Non-limiting examples include delivery via thehepatic artery or the portal vein.

Generally, in methods for treating a viral infection in a mammal, thesmall interfering RNA is administered with a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier. As used herein, a “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” (alsointerchangeably termed “pharmaceutically acceptable excipient” herein)is a relatively inert substance that facilitates administration of thesmall interfering RNA or RNAs. For example, a carrier can give form orconsistency to the composition or can act as a diluent. Apharmaceutically acceptable carrier is biocompatible (i.e., not toxic tothe host) and suitable for a particular route of administration for apharmacologically effective substance. Suitable pharmaceuticallyacceptable carriers include but are not limited to stabilizing agents,wetting and emulsifying agents, salts for varying osmolarity,encapsulating agents, buffers, and skin penetration enhancers. In someembodiments, the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is water or saline.Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are described inRemington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (Alfonso R. Gennaro, ed., 18thedition, 1990).

In methods for treating a viral infection, small interfering RNAs asdescribed herein are generally administered parenterally, e.g.,subcutaneously, intravenously, or intramuscularly.

Compositions

The invention provides compositions for inhibiting viral gene expressionand/or treating a viral infection in a mammal comprising at least onesmall interfering RNA as described herein. Compositions of the inventionmay comprise two or more small interfering RNAs as described herein. Inaccordance with the invention, a small interfering RNA, e.g., shRNA orsiRNA, comprises a sequence that is substantially complementary to aviral polynucleotide sequence of about 19 to about 30 nucleotides,wherein interaction of the substantially complementary sequence of thesmall interfering RNA with the polynucleotide sequence of the virusinhibits viral gene expression, for example, by cleavage of viralpolynucleotide sequences.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises an shRNA that includes asequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 12, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25. In some embodiments, the compositioncomprises an shRNA that includes one of the following: SEQ ID NO:34, SEQID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ IDNO:40, SEQ ID NO:41, SEQ ID NO:42, SEQ ID NO:43, SEQ ID NO:44, SEQ IDNO:45, SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:47, SEQ ID NO:48, SEQ ID NO:49, SEQ IDNO:50, SEQ ID NO:51; SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:53, SEQ ID NO:54, SEQ IDNO:55, or SEQ ID NO:56 (Table 10). In some embodiments, the compositioncomprises one or more shRNAs of SEQ ID NO:57-110. In some embodiments,the composition comprises a siRNA comprising a sequence selected fromSEQ ID NOs:19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25. In other embodiments, thecomposition comprises a siRNA that includes a sequence of SEQ ID NO:34,SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:39,SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:41, SEQ ID NO:42, SEQ ID NO:43, SEQ ID NO:44,SEQ ID NO:45, SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:47, SEQ ID NO:48, SEQ ID NO:49,SEQ ID NO:50, SEQ ID NO:51; SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:53, SEQ ID NO:54,SEQ ID NO:55, or SEQ ID NO:56 (FIG. 10). In some embodiments, thecomposition comprises a shRNA or siRNA that binds to, i.e., comprises asequence substantially complementary to, a sequence of about 19 to about30 nucleotides within the IRES element of HCV, for example, HCV genotype1a. A composition can include more than one different shRNA, e.g.,shRNAs targeting different sequences of an IRES or different alleles ormutations of a target sequence. An shRNA or siRNA as described hereincan include more than one of the identified sequences. Certaincompositions contain more than one different shRNA or siRNA sequences.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a pharmaceutical compositioncomprising a small interfering RNA as described herein and apharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In some embodiments, thepharmaceutical composition is formulated for parenteral administrationto a mammal, for example, a human.

A pharmaceutical composition that includes a short interfering RNA(e.g., an siRNA or an shRNA) is formulated to be compatible with itsintended route of administration. Examples of routes of administrationinclude parenteral, e.g., intravenous, intradermal, subcutaneous,inhalation, transdermal (topical), transmucosal, and rectaladministration; or oral. Solutions or suspensions used for parenteral,intradermal, or subcutaneous application can include the followingcomponents: a sterile diluent such as water for injection, salinesolution, fixed oils, polyethylene glycols, glycerin, propylene glycolor other synthetic solvents; antibacterial agents such as benzyl alcoholor methyl parabens; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or sodiumbisulfite; chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid;buffers such as acetates, citrates or phosphates and agents for theadjustment of tonicity such as sodium chloride or dextrose. pH can beadjusted with acids or bases, such as hydrochloric acid or sodiumhydroxide. A parenteral preparation can be enclosed in ampoules,disposable syringes or multiple dose vials made of glass or plastic.

Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for injectable use include sterileaqueous solutions (where water soluble) or dispersions and sterilepowders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectablesolutions or dispersion. For intravenous administration, suitablecarriers include physiological saline, bacteriostatic water, CremophorEL™ (BASF, Parsippany, N.J.) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS). In allcases, the composition must be sterile and should be fluid to the extentthat easy syringability exists. It should be stable under the conditionsof manufacture and storage and must be preserved against thecontaminating action of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Thecarrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example,water, ethanol, polyol (for example, glycerol, propylene glycol, andliquid polyethylene glycol, and the like), and suitable mixturesthereof. The proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the useof a coating such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the selectedparticle size in the case of dispersion and by the use of surfactants.Prevention of the action of microorganisms can be achieved by variousantibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens,chlorobutanol, phenol, ascorbic acid, thimerosal, and the like. In somecases, isotonic agents are included, for example, sugars, orpolyalcohols such as mannitol, sorbitol, or sodium chloride. Prolongedabsorption of an injectable composition can be effected by including inthe composition an agent which delays absorption, for example, aluminummonostearate or gelatin.

Sterile injectable solutions can be prepared by incorporating the activecompound in the specified amount in an appropriate solvent with one or acombination of ingredients enumerated above, as needed, followed byfiltered sterilization. Generally, dispersions are prepared byincorporating the active compound into a sterile vehicle that contains abasic dispersion medium and other ingredients selected from thoseenumerated above or others known in the art. In the case of sterilepowders for the preparation of sterile injectable solutions, thepreferred methods of preparation are vacuum drying and freeze-dryingwhich yields a powder of the active ingredient plus any additionaldesired ingredient from a previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.

Oral compositions generally include an inert diluent or an ediblecarrier. For the purpose of oral therapeutic administration, the activecompound can be incorporated with excipients and used in the form oftablets, troches, or capsules, e.g., gelatin capsules. Pharmaceuticallycompatible binding agents can be included as part of the composition.The tablets, pills, capsules, troches and the like can contain any ofthe following ingredients, or compounds of a similar nature: a bindersuch as microcrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin; anexcipient such as starch or lactose, a disintegrating agent such asalginic acid, Primogel, or corn starch; a lubricant such as magnesiumstearate or Sterotes; a glidant such as colloidal silicon dioxide; asweetening agent such as sucrose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent suchas peppermint, methyl salicylate, or orange flavoring.

For administration by inhalation, the compounds are delivered in theform of an aerosol spray from pressured container or dispenser thatcontains a suitable propellant, e.g., a gas such as carbon dioxide, or anebulizer.

Systemic administration can also be by transmucosal or transdermalmeans. For transmucosal or transdermal administration, penetrantsappropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation.Such penetrants are generally known in the art, and include, forexample, for transmucosal administration, detergents, bile salts, andfusidic acid derivatives. Transmucosal administration can beaccomplished through the use of nasal sprays or suppositories. Fortransdermal administration, the active compounds are formulated intoointments, salves, gels, or creams as generally known in the art.

The compounds can also be prepared in the form of suppositories (e.g.,with conventional suppository bases such as cocoa butter and otherglycerides) or retention enemas for rectal delivery.

In one embodiment, the active compounds are prepared with carriers thatwill protect the compound against rapid elimination from the body, suchas a controlled release formulation, including implants andmicroencapsulated delivery systems. Biodegradable, biocompatiblepolymers can be used, such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polyanhydrides,polyglycolic acid, collagen, polyorthoesters, and polylactic acid.Methods for preparation of such formulations will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. The materials can also be obtained commercially fromAlza Corporation and Nova Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Liposomal suspensions(including liposomes targeted to infected cells with monoclonalantibodies to viral antigens) can also be used as pharmaceuticallyacceptable carriers. These can be prepared according to methods known tothose skilled in the art, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No.4,522,811.

It is advantageous to formulate oral or parenteral compositions indosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage.Dosage unit form as used herein refers to physically discrete unitssuited as unitary dosages for the subject to be treated; each unitcontaining a predetermined quantity of active compound calculated toproduce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the selectedpharmaceutical carrier.

Toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of compounds disclosed herein can bedetermined by pharmaceutical procedures known in the art, for example,in cell cultures or experimental animals, e.g., for determining the LD50(the dose lethal to 50% of the population) and the ED50 (the dosetherapeutically effective in 50% of the population). The dose ratiobetween toxic and therapeutic effects is the therapeutic index and itcan be expressed as the ratio LD50/ED50. Compounds that exhibit hightherapeutic indices are preferred. While compounds that exhibit toxicside effects may be used, care should be taken to design a deliverysystem that targets such compounds to the site of affected tissue tominimize potential damage to uninfected cells and, thereby, reduce sideeffects.

The data obtained from the cell culture assays and animal studies can beused in formulating a range of dosage for use in humans. The dosage ofsuch compounds lies preferably within a range of circulatingconcentrations that include the ED50 with little or no toxicity. Thedosage may vary within this range depending upon the dosage formemployed and the route of administration utilized. For any compound usedin the method of the invention, the therapeutically effective dose canbe estimated initially from cell culture assays. A dose may beformulated in animal models to achieve a circulating plasmaconcentration range that includes the IC50 (i.e., the concentration ofthe test compound which achieves a half-maximal inhibition of symptoms)as determined in cell culture. Such information can be used to moreaccurately determine useful doses in humans. Levels in plasma may bemeasured, for example, by high performance liquid chromatography.

The invention also relates to a method of making a medicament for use intreating a subject, e.g., for HCV infection. Such medicaments can alsobe used for prophylactic treatment of a subject at risk for or suspectedof having an HCV infection.

Kits

The invention provides kits comprising a small interfering RNA asdescribed herein. In some embodiments, the kits also includeinstructions for use in the methods for inhibiting viral gene expressionand/or methods for treatment of a viral infection in a mammal describedherein. Instructions may be provided in printed form or in the form ofan electronic medium such as a floppy disc, CD, or DVD, or in the formof a website address where such instructions may be obtained.

In some embodiments, the kits include a pharmaceutical composition ofthe invention, for example including at least one unit dose of at leastone small interfering RNA such as a shRNA or a siRNA, and instructionsproviding information to a health care provider regarding usage fortreating or preventing a viral infection. The small interfering RNA isoften included as a sterile aqueous pharmaceutical composition or drypowder (e.g., lyophilized) composition.

Suitable packaging is provided. As used herein, “packaging” refers to asolid matrix or material customarily used in a system and capable ofholding within fixed limits a composition of the invention suitable foradministration to an individual. Such materials include glass andplastic (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, and polycarbonate) bottles,vials, paper, plastic, and plastic-foil laminated envelopes and thelike. If e-beam sterilization techniques are employed, the packagingshould have sufficiently low density to permit sterilization of thecontents.

Kits may also optionally include equipment for administration of apharmaceutical composition of the invention, such as, for example,syringes or equipment for intravenous administration, and/or a sterilesolution, e.g., a diluent such as water, saline, or a dextrose solution,for preparing a dry powder (e.g., lyophilized) composition foradministration.

TABLE 1  Listing of Targeting Sequences Disclosed in the Application    that can be Incorporated into shRNA  or siRNA and Examples of such shRNAs and siRNAs Target SequenceAntisense sequence  Position on   Examples of ID # (5′-3′)  HCV IRESshRNA or siRNA SEQ ID NO: 27 UCUUUGAGGUUUAGGAUUCGUGCUC 344-368HCVa-wt shRNA SEQ ID NO: 28 UCUUUGAGGUUUAGGAUUGGUGCUC 344-368HCVa-SNP1 shRNA SEQ ID NO: 29 UCUUUGAGCUUUAGGAUUCGUGCUC 344-368HCVa-SNP2 shRNA SEQ ID NO: 30 UCUUUGAGCUUUAGGAUUGGUGCUC 344-368HCVa-mut shRNA SEQ ID NO: 31 CCUCCCGGGGCACUCGCAAGCACCC 299-323HCVb-wt shRNA SEQ ID NO: 32 UGGUGCACGGUCUACGAGACCUCCC 318-342HCVc-wt shRNA SEQ ID NO: 33 GGUUUUUCUUUGAGGUUUAGGAUUC 350-374HCVd-wt shRNA SEQ ID NO: 19 AGGUUUAGGAUUCGUGCUC 344-362 siRNA#1, shRNA#1SEQ ID NO: 20 GAGGUUUAGGAUUCGUGCU 345-363 siRNA#2, shRNA#2 SEQ ID NO: 21UGAGGUUUAGGAUUCGUGC 346-364 siRNA#3, shRNA#3 SEQ ID NO: 22UUGAGGUUUAGGAUUCGUG 347-365 siRNA#4, shRNA#4 SEQ ID NO: 23UUUGAGGUUUAGGAUUCGU 348-366 siRNA#5, shRNA#5 SEQ ID NO: 24CUUUGAGGUUUAGGAUUCG 349-367 siRNA#6, shRNA#6 SEQ ID NO: 25UCUUUGAGGUUUAGGAUUC 350-368 siRNA#7, shRNA#7

FIG. 16A-B illustrates examples of shRNAs containing sequence targetingHCV IRES, and tested using methods described herein.

EXAMPLES

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples. Theexamples are provided for illustrative purposes only. They are not to beconstrued as limiting the scope or content of the invention in any way.

Example 1 Design and Construction of shRNA Expression Cassettes, T7Transcription Reactions, and Reporter Gene Assays

Chemically synthesized oligonucleotides were obtained from IDT(Coralville, Iowa), resuspended in RNase- and pyrogen-free water(Biowhittaker), and annealed as described below. The followingoligonucleotide pairs, for making shRNA, contain a T7 promoter element(doubly underlined), sense and antisense HCV IRES sequence and a miR-23microRNA loop structure (reported to facilitate cytoplasmic localization[21, 22]).

T7-HCVa-wt fw:

(SEQ ID NO: 1) 5′-taatacgactcactatagggagcacgaatcctaaacctcaaagaCTTCCTGTCAtctttgaggtttaggattcgtgctcTT-3′;

T7-HCVa-wt rev:

(SEQ ID NO: 2) 5′-AAgagcacgaatcctaaacctcaaagaTGACAGGAAGtctttgaggtttaggattcgtgct ccctatagtgagtcgtatta-3′

(T7 promoter sequence doubly underlined). T7 transcripts for HCVa-mutshRNA were identical with the exception that nucleotide changes (G→C andC→G) were incorporated into the synthesized oligonucleotides at thesingly underlined residues.

HCVa-wt shRNA (FIG. 1B) was designed to target the region 344-374 on theHCV IRES; HCVb-wt was designed to target the region 299-323 (FIG. 1C);HCVc-wt was designed to target the region 318-342 (FIG. 1C); and HCVd-wtwas designed to target the region 350-374 (FIG. 1C).

ShRNAs #1-7 (targeting positions 344-362, 345-363, 346-364, 347-365,348-366, 349-367, 350-368 on the HCV IRES; See FIG. 4A, which depictsthe 19 base pair viral recognition sequences) were in vitro transcribedusing the MEGAscript® kit (Ambion) and contained the same loop sequencesand 5′, 3′-overhangs as HCVa-wt shRNA. SiRNAs #1-7 (see FIG. 4A, whichdepicts the 19 base pair viral recognition sequences) were chemicallysynthesized at Dharmacon (Lafayette, Colo.) and contained 3′-UUoverhangs on both sense and antisense strands.

The oligonucleotide pair used to prepare the control shRNA 229 (whichtargets tumor necrosis factor alpha) is 229-5′-TAATACGACTCACTATAGGGGCGGTGCCTATGTCTCAGCCTCTTCTCACTTCCTGTCATGAGAAGAGGCTGAGACA TAGGCACCGCC TT-3′(SEQ ID NO:3)

and 229-3′-AAGGCG GTGCCTATGTC TCAGCC TCT TCTCA TGACAGGAAG TGAGAAGAGGCTGA GACATAGGCACCCCTATAGTGAGTCGTATTA-5′ (SEQ ID NO:4).Pol III U6 shRNA Expression Vector Construction-Design of Small HairpinshRNA Expression Vectors

Oligonucleotide pairs were incubated together at 95° C. for two minutesin RNA polymerase buffer (e.g., 120 μl of each 100 μM oligonucleotide in60 μl 5× annealing buffer (Promega; 1×=10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 50 mMNaCl) and slowly cooled (annealed) over 1 hour to less than 40° C. Theoligonucleotides were designed to provide 4-base overhangs for rapidcloning into Bbs1/BamH1-digested pCRII-U6 plasmid (Bbs1 and BamH1recognition sites or overhangs are underlined in the oligonucleotidesequences). The pCRII-U6 pol III expression plasmid was prepared bysubcloning the PCR product obtained from human HT-1080 genomic DNA usingprimers and huU6-5′ ATCGATCCCCAGTGGAAAGACGCGCAG (SEQ ID NO:5) andhuU6-3′-GGATCCGAATTCGAAGACCACGGTGTTTCGTCCTTTCCACAA-5′

(SEQ ID NO:6) [23] into the pCRII vector (Invitrogen) using the TAcloning kit (Invitrogen). The cassette consisting of the annealedoligonucleotides (encoding the HCV IRES shRNA) was ligated into theBbs1/BamH1-digested pCRII-U6 plasmid. The expressed shRNA contains amiR-23 microRNA loop structure to facilitate cytoplasmic localization[21, 22]. The final pCRII-U6 constructs were confirmed by sequencing.The primers pairs used were: pHCVa-wt 5′-ACCG GAGCACGAATCCTAAACCTCAAAGACTTCCTGTCA TCTTTGAGGTTTAGGATTCGTGCTC TTTTTTG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:7) and5′-GATCCAAAAAA GAGCACGAATCCTAAACCTCAAAGA TGACAGGAAGTCTTTGAGGTTTAGGATTCGTGCTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:8). Oligonucleotides containingthe appropriate sequence changes at the underlined residues (see above)were used to generate the pCRII-U6/HCVa-mut (double mutation), HCVsnp1(single change at 5′ side) and HCVsnp2 (single change at 3′ end) asdepicted in FIG. 1B and described above. The control pCRII-U6/229 wasprepared is similar fashion using the oligonucleotides 5′-ACCGGGCGGTGCCTATGTCTCAGCCTCTTCTCACTTCCTGTCATGAGAAGAGGCTGAGACATAGGCACCGCCTTTTTT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:9) and3′-GATCAAAAAAGGCGGTGCCTATGTCTCAGCCTCTTCTCATGACAGGAAGTGAGAAGAGGCTGAGACATAGGCACCGCC-5′ (SEQ ID NO:10).

T7 Transcription Reactions

Oligonucleotide pairs were incubated at 95° C. for two minutes in RNApolymerase buffer (e.g., 120 μl of each 100 μM oligonucleotide in 60 μl5× transcription buffer (Promega)) and slowly cooled (annealed) over 1hour to less than 40° C. ShRNA was transcribed at 42° C. for four hoursfrom 5 μM of the resulting annealed double-stranded DNA template usingthe AmpliScribe™ T7 Flash transcription kit (Epicentre Technologies)followed by purification on a gel filtration spin column (Microspin™G-50, Amersham Biosciences) that had been thoroughly washed three timeswith phosphate buffered saline (PBS) to remove preservative.

siRNAs

siRNAs were prepared by annealing chemically synthesized (Dharmacon)complementary strands of RNA, each containing the appropriaterecognition sequence plus an (overhanging) UU extension on the 3′end.

Transfections and Reporter Gene Assays

Human 293FT (Invitrogen) and Huh7 cells (American Type CultureCollection (ATCC), Manassas, Va.) were maintained in DMEM(Biowhittaker®) with 10% fetal bovine serum (HyClone), supplemented with2 mM L-glutamine and 1 mM sodium pyruvate. The day prior totransfection, cells were seeded at 1.7×10⁵ cells/well in a 24-wellplate, resulting in about 80% cell confluency at the time oftransfection. Cells were transfected with Lipofectamine™ 2000(Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) following the manufacturer'sinstructions. For the inhibition experiments, 293FT or Huh7 cells werecotransfected (in triplicate) with 40 ng pCDNA3/HCV IRES dual luciferase(renilla and firefly) reporter construct, 50 ng pSEAP2-control plasmid(BD Biosciences Clontech, as transfection controls) and the indicatedamounts of T7-generated shRNA (typical amount 1 pmole) or pCRII-U6 shRNAexpression construct (710 ng). Compensatory pUC18 plasmid was added tothe transfection mix to give a final concentration of 800 ng totalnucleic acid per transfection. Forty-eight hours later, supernatant wasremoved, heated at 65° C. for 15-30 minutes, and 5-10 μl of thesupernatant was added to 150 μl p-nitrophenyl phosphate liquid substratesystem (pNPP, Sigma). After a 30-60 minute incubation at roomtemperature, samples were read (405 nm) on a Molecular Devices Thermomaxmicroplate reader and quantitated using SOFTmax software (MolecularDevices). The remaining cells were lysed and luciferase activitymeasured using the Dual-Luciferase Reporter assay system (Promega) andMicroLumat LB 96 P luminometer (Berthold).

Mice

Six-week old female Balb/c mice were obtained from the animal facilityof Stanford University. Animals were treated according to the NIHGuidelines for Animal Care and the Guidelines of Stanford University.

Mouse Hydrodynamic Injections and In Vivo Imaging

Hydrodynamic tail vein injections were performed as described byMcCaffrey and colleagues with minor modifications including omission ofRNasin [24]. A total volume of 1.8 ml of phosphate-buffered salinecontaining inhibitor (RNA or plasmid), 10 μg of pHCV Dual Luc plasmid,and 2 μg pSEAP2-control plasmid (BD Biosciences Clontech, contains theSV40 early promoter), was steadily injected into the mouse tail veinover about five seconds (N=4-6 animals per group). At the indicatedtimes, 100 of 30 mg/ml luciferin was injected intraperitoneally. Tenminutes following the injection, live anesthetized mice were analyzedusing the IVIS7 imaging system (Xenogen Corp., Alameda, Calif.) and theresulting light emission data quantitated using LivingImage software(Xenogen). Raw values are reported as relative detected light per minuteand standard errors of the mean for each group (N=4-5 animals) areshown.

Secreted Alkaline Phosphatase (SEAP) Assay

At day 5, mice were bled through the retro-orbital vein of the eye. Theserum was separated from blood cells by microcentrifugation, heated at65° C. for 30 minutes to inactivate endogenous alkaline phosphates, and5-10 μl of the serum was added to 150 μl pNPP liquid substrate system(see above). After a 30-60 minute incubation at room temperature,samples were read (405 nm) and quantitated as described above.

Example 2 shRNA Inhibition of HCV IRES-Mediated Gene Expression in HumanTissue Culture Cells

In this study, short interfering RNAs (shRNAs and siRNAs) designed andconstructed as in Example 1 to target a conserved region of thehepatitis C IRES were tested for their ability to inhibit HCVIRES-mediated reporter expression in human tissue culture cells.

FIG. 1A shows the HCV IRES target site (panel A) as well as the HCVshRNA resulting from T7 transcription of a template prepared fromhybridized oligonucleotides containing a T7 promoter sequence and HCVIRES target (FIG. 1B). The underlined residues are those that werechanged to generate the mutant HCV shRNAs. The shRNAs contain a mir-23microRNA loop structure that was previously suggested to facilitatecytoplasmic localization [21, 22] and a 25 base pair RNA stem with twonucleotides at the 5′ (two guanines) and 3′ (two uridines) ends that mayalso hybridize though non Watson-Crick G:U base pairings. Forvector-delivered shRNAs, overlapping oligonucleotides were subclonedinto a poIII expression vector (pCRII-U6, see Example 1).

Three other shRNAs were also designed with the same stem length and loopsequence that target nearby positions in Domain IV of the HCV IRES (FIG.1C). HCVb-wt shRNA targets a highly structured region (used as negativecontrol, to compare efficiency), while HCVc-wt and HCVd-wt shRNA targetregions that are more ‘accessible’ according to biochemical footprintingstudies (FIG. 1D; Brown et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1992, 20:5041-5.).All RNAs were in vitro transcribed from dsDNA templates containing a T7promoter, similar to the HCVa-wt shRNA.

To test the effectiveness of the HCV shRNAs to inhibit HCV IRES-mediatedgene expression, human 293FT or hepatocyte Huh7 cells wereco-transfected with pCDNA3/HCV IRES dual luciferase expression plasmid,secreted alkaline phosphatase expression plasmid (pSEAP2, to control forefficiency of transfection) as well as in vitro synthesized shRNAs oralternatively, pol III expression vectors containing the correspondingshRNA cassettes.

As seen in FIG. 1F, both HCVa-wt and HCVd-wt shRNAs, which target theregion of the IRES immediately downstream of the AUG translation startsite (positions 344-368 and 350-374, respectively), strongly inhibit HCVIRES-mediated fLuc expression in human 293FT cells. HCVc-wt (targeting318-342) showed moderate inhibition and HCVb-wt (299-323) displayedlittle if any activity, as expected. Thus, preliminary screeningrevealed a potent shRNA, HCVa-wt, that was chosen for further detailedstudies.

Specificity and Potency of Inhibition of HCV IRES-Mediated GeneExpression by shRNAs in 293FT Cells

To further test inhibition of HCV-IRES driven gene expression, 293FTcells were cotransfected with dual luciferase reporter and SEAPexpressing plasmids as well as 1 pmole of in vitro transcribed shRNAs.The target plasmid was pCDNA3/HCV IRES dual luciferase reporter (HCVIRES, as shown in FIG. 1E). pUC18 plasmid was added to the transfectionmix to give a final total nucleic acid concentration of 800 ng pertransfection per well (24-well tissue culture plates). Forty-eight hourslater, supernatant was removed for SEAP analysis, then cells were lysedand firefly and renilla (not shown) luciferase activity measured asdescribed in Example 1. Firefly luciferase and SEAP activities werenormalized to 100. Results are shown in FIG. 2A.

HCVa-wt shRNA targeting the region of the IRES immediately downstream ofthe AUG translation start site strongly inhibited HCV IRES-mediated fLucexpression in both human 293FT (FIG. 2) and hepatocyte Huh7 (FIG. 3B)cell lines. Little or no inhibition was observed using either a mutantshRNA (HCVa-mut) containing two changes in the pairing of the RNAhairpin (for mismatch location, see FIG. 1B) or an unrelated TNF (229)shRNA. The 229 TNF shRNA is highly effective at inhibiting TNFexpression (Seyhan et al., RNA, 2005, 11:837-846), suggesting that thisshRNA is utilized effectively by the RNAi apparatus. Single nucleotidechanges in the hairpin region, at either the upstream or downstreamposition (SNP1 and SNP2 respectively; see FIG. 2C), had a partialeffect.

Little or no inhibition was observed when the HCV shRNA was targeted toa similar dual luciferase construct in which the HCV IRES was replacedby the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) IRES (FIGS. 2B and 3B). Thus,the data of FIG. 2B illustrate that HCVa-wt shRNA does not inhibit asimilar target lacking the HCV IRES. In this experiment, cells weretransfected as for FIG. 2A except that pCDNA3/EMCV dual luciferasereporter (EMCV IRES) was used as target in place of pCDNA3/HCV. Thesedata are presented in FIG. 2B as luciferase activity divided by SEAPactivity normalized to 100.

To confirm that the shRNAs were acting by degrading their target mRNA, aNorthern blot analysis was performed (FIG. 2F). Equal amounts of totalRNA, isolated from cells transfected with no inhibitor or HCVa-wt,HCVmut1/2, or 229 shRNAs, were separated by gel electrophoresis. Theseparated RNA was transferred to a membrane and hybridized toradiolabeled cDNA probes specific for fLuc, SEAP and elongation factor1A (EF1A). HCVa-wt shRNA (lane 3) specifically inhibited fLuc mRNAaccumulation (63% inhibition compared to 229 shRNA (lane 2) whencorrected for SEAP and EF1A mRNA levels; no inhibition was observed forHCVa-mut1/2) (compare lanes 3 and 4) following quantitation byphosphorimager. These data demonstrate that the shRNAs were degradingtarget mRNA.

Dose response experiments showed that the HCVa-wt shRNA effectivelyinhibited HCV IRES-dependent gene expression at 0.3 nM in 293FT cells(96 percent inhibition, see FIG. 2D) and 0.1 nM in Huh7 cells (75percent inhibition, see FIG. 3A).

To further investigate local sequence effects on potency, seven invitro-transcribed 19 by shRNA and the corresponding synthetic 19 basepair siRNA, targeting all possible positions within the 31-base pairsite of HCVa (344-374; FIG. 4A), were assayed for inhibitory activity. A25 base pair synthetic siRNA corresponding to HCVa-wt shRNA was alsotested. All of them exhibited a high level of activity (FIG. 4B). Themost potent were siRNA and shRNA versions of HCVa as well as siRNA #3,which was effective at 1 nM (>90% inhibition, FIG. 4B) and 0.1 nM (about90% inhibition, FIG. 4C). Thus, 19-25 base pair shRNAs and siRNAsdesigned to target the region 344-374 on the HCV IRES are potent, withsome local differences.

Example 3 shRNA Inhibition of HCV IRES-Mediated Gene Expression in aMouse Model System

The ability of the HCV shRNA and HCV shRNA expression plasmid to inhibittarget gene expression was extended to a mouse model system usinghydrodynamic injection to deliver the nucleic acids to mouse liver. FIG.5 shows the results of injecting a large volume of PBS (1.8 ml)containing pHCV dual Luc, pSEAP2, and shRNAs (10 fold excess over thetarget on a mass basis of either shRNA or pol III expression vectorsexpressing the shRNAs) into the tail veins of mice (n=4-5 mice). At thetime points shown in FIG. 5B, luciferin was injected intraperitoneallyand the mice were imaged with a high sensitivity, cooled CCD camera.(FIG. 5A shows representative mice chosen from each set (4-5 mice perset) at the 84 hour time point.) At all time points tested, HCV shRNArobustly inhibited luciferase expression ranging from 98% (84 hour timepoint) to 94% (48-hour time point) inhibition compared to mice injectedwith pUC18 in place of shRNA inhibitor. Mutant (mut) or control (229)shRNAs had little or no effect. It should be noted that luciferaseactivity decreases with time, possibly due to loss of DNA or promotersilencing [8] and that the data are normalized within each time point(see description of FIG. 5 above).

FIG. 6 shows a comparison of HCVa-wt shRNA inhibitory activity with aphosphoramidite morpholino oligomer that was previously shown toeffectively target this same site [8]. Both the HCVa-wt shRNA andmorpholino oligomers effectively blocked luciferase expression at alltime-points tested. Data are shown for the 48-hour time-point, whereinhibition was 99.95 and 99.88 percent, respectively for the HCVa-wtshRNA and morpholino inhibitors.

Example 4 Inhibition of Semliki Forest Virus (SFV) Using shRNAs

SFV has been used as a model system for more virulent positive-strandRNA viruses. To examine the inhibitory effect of RNAi on SFV growth,shRNAs targeting four SFV genes (nsp-1, nsp-2 and nsp-4, and capsid) andone mismatched control for the nsp-4 site were generated and expressedfrom a U6 promoter. Their ability to tested their ability to inhibit theproliferation of SFV-A7-EGFP, a version of the replication-proficientSFV strain SFV-A7 that expresses a eGFP reporter gene [49]. A modestreduction (about 35%) of SFV-GFP replication was seen with shRNAstargeting the nsp-1 (FIG. 7) but not nsp-2, nsp-4 or capsid codingregions, nor with the mismatched siRNA (not shown).

A site within the capsid coding region that was previously shown to beeffective on Sindbis virus [50] was not effective on SFV. TheSindbis-SFV sequence homology at this site is only 77%. SFV is a veryrapidly growing virus, producing up to 200,000 cytoplasmic RNAs duringits infectious cycle. To see if cells could better protected from aslower-growing virus, the effects of these siRNAs on areplication-deficient strain of SFV-GFP were tested in two separateexperiments. FIG. 8 shows that U6-expressed shRNAs targeting this SFVstrain can reduce viral expression by >70% over a time period of up tofive days. This effect was seen with siRNAs targeting the nonstructuralgenes nsp-1, nsp-2, and nsp-4 as well as an siRNA with one mismatch tonsp-4, but not for the capsid gene (which is lacking in this crippledvirus) or other controls (FIG. 8). Note that the length of the sequencetargeted by the shRNAs is 29 nucleotides and the single mismatch used inthe nsp-4 mismatch shRNA is apparently not disruptive for the RNAieffect. The wide variation in effectiveness of the various shRNAsunderscores the importance of a library approach for finding the bestsiRNAs and shRNAs when dealing with rapidly replicating and highlymutagenic viruses such as SFV.

Dose-response experiments were performed to examine inhibition of an HCVreplicon system in Huh7 cells by HCVa-wt shRNA and HCVa-mut shRNA aswell as a non-specific control shRNA (229). The antiviral activity oftest compounds was assayed in the stably HCV RNA-replicating cell line,AVA5, derived by transfection of the human hepatoblastoma cell line,Huh7 (Blight, et al., Science, 2000, 290:1972). RNA-based inhibitorswere co-transfected with DsRed expression plasmid into cultures thatwere about 80 percent confluent. HCV RNA levels were assessed 48 hoursafter transfection using dot blot hybridization. Assays were conductedin triplicate cultures. A total of 4-6 untreated control cultures, andtriplicate cultures treated with 10, 3, and 1 IU/ml α-interferon (activeantiviral with no cytotoxicity), and 100, 10, and 1 uM ribavirin (noantiviral activity and cytotoxic) served as positive antiviral andtoxicity controls. The transfection efficiency was estimated byfluorescence microscopy (DsRed expression). Both HCV and b-actin RNAlevels in triplicate treated cultures were determined as a percentage ofthe mean levels of RNA detected in untreated cultures (6 total).Beta-actin RNA levels are used both as a measure of toxicity, and tonormalize the amount of cellular RNA in each sample. A level of 30% orless HCV RNA (relative to control cultures) is considered to be apositive antiviral effect, and a level of 50% or less b-actin RNA(relative to control cultures) is considered to be a cytotoxic effect.Cytotoxicity is measured using an established neutral red dye uptakeassay (Korba, B. E. and J. L. Gerin (1992). Use of a standardized cellculture assay to determine activities of nucleoside analogs againsthepatitis B virus replication (Antivir. Res. 19:55-70).

]Inhibition of an HCV replicon system in Huh7 cells by HCVa-wt shRNA andHCVa-mut shRNA as well as an irrelevant control shRNA (229); doseresponse. The antiviral activity of test compounds was assayed in thestably HCV RNA-replicating cell line, AVA5, derived by transfection ofthe human hepatoblastoma cell line, Huh7 (Blight et al. Science, 2000,290:1972). RNA-based inhibitors were co-transfected with DsRedexpression plasmid into ˜80 percent confluent cultures and HCV RNAlevels were assessed 48 hours after transfection using dot blothybridization. Assays were conducted in triplicate cultures. A total of4-6 untreated control cultures, and triplicate cultures treated with 10,3, and 1 IU/ml a-interferon (active antiviral with no cytotoxicity), and100, 10, and 1 uM ribavirin (no antiviral activity and cytotoxic) servedas positive antiviral and toxicity controls. The transfection efficiencywas estimated by fluorescence microscopy (DsRed expression). Both HCVand beta-actin RNA levels in triplicate treated cultures were determinedas a percentage of the mean levels of RNA detected in untreated cultures(6 total). Beta actin RNA levels were used both as a measure oftoxicity, and to normalize the amount of cellular RNA in each sample. Alevel of 30% or less HCV RNA (relative to control cultures) wasconsidered to be a positive antiviral effect, and a level of 50% or lessbeta-actin RNA (relative to control cultures) was considered to be acytotoxic effect. Cytotoxicity was measured using an established neutralred dye uptake assay (Korba et al., Antiviral Res., 1992, 19:55-70). Useof a standardized cell culture assay to determine activities ofnucleoside analogs against hepatitis B virus replication (Korba et al.,1992 supra).

Example 5 Identification of shRNAs that Inhibit HCV IRES-Dependent GeneExpression in Tissue Culture Cells

The ability of in vitro-transcribed small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) toinhibit hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site (HCVIRES)-dependent gene expression in cultured cells was investigated. Asdisclosed supra, a 25 base pair shRNA HCVa-wt that targets the 3′ end ofthe HCV IRES, near the AUG translation start site (Table 2) was found tobe effective for disrupting expression of HCV. To assess the ability ofco-transfected shRNA constructs to interfere with the function of theIRES, a reporter construct (pHCV Dual Luciferase plasmid) in whichfirefly luciferase (fLuc) expression is dependent on the HCV IRES wasused (FIG. 1; Wang et al., Mol. Ther., 2005, 12:562-568. In theseexperiments, 293FT cells were cultured and transfected with a reporterconstruct and HCVa-wt or one of the other test sequences as described inWang et al., 2005, supra.

It was found that at a concentration of 1 nM, HCVa-wt caused 90%inhibition of HCV IRES-dependent luciferase expression in 293FT cells(Wang et al., 2005, supra). In subsequent experiments, 26 additionalshRNAs targeting various regions of the HCV IRES were designed andtested (FIG. 10, FIG. 16A-B); 3 of the 26 were duplicates of thosedescribed above (HCVb, HCVc, HCVd-wt); 23 were new sequences) toidentify additional inhibitors of HCV. The goal was to identify shRNAsthat can be used either in combination with HCVa-wt), making it harderfor the virus to develop resistance by mutating the HCVa-wt target site,or as alternatives to HCVa-wt. The shRNAs to be tested were chosen toavoid regions that vary among different HCV genotypes. Some testsequences were selected using the algorithm available at (e.g.,jura.wi.mit.edu/bioc/siRNAext/, and other test sequences intentionallytargeted HCV-IRES sequences that, due to their CG content and othercharacteristics, would not be recommended by most algorithms would ruleout, such as GC-rich or highly structured regions. The shRNAs weregenerated by in vitro transcription from dsDNA templates using T7 RNApolymerase and, to promote transcription efficiency, began with thesequence 5′-pppGGG. This 5′ sequence formed an overhang of two to threenucleotides, the exact length depending on whether the target sitecontains one or more guanosine residues at its 5′ end (see FIG. 16A-B).If the last nucleotide of the RNA sense strand matching a targetsequence was ‘G,’ only two more Gs had to be added for efficienttranscription, and those Gs are single-stranded on the 5′-end of theshRNA, not complimentary to the target. If the last nucleotide of theshRNA sense strand matching the target, was not a G, then for efficienttranscription in the test systems, three Gs had to be added that werenot complimentary to the target. All shRNAs tested in this set ofexperiments had a duplex stem length of 21-25 base pairs and a 10nucleotide loop derived from microRNA-23, as described for HCVa-wt.

All of the shRNAs (27 total, including HCVa-wt were assayed for activityas described in Wang, 2005. Briefly, human 293FT cells wereco-transfected with pHCV Dual Luciferase® Reporter expression plasmid(Promega, Madison, Wis.), and a secreted alkaline phosphatase expressionplasmid (pSEAP2, Clontech, Mountain View, Calif.) to control forefficiency of transfection and possible off-target effects), and shRNA.Results are shown in FIG. 10. SEAP levels were uniform in all samples,indicating efficient transfection and the absence of nonspecificinhibitory or toxic effects, at shRNA concentrations of 1 nM to 5 nM.Most of the shRNAs displayed only moderate activity (less than 60%inhibition at 1 nM). Without committing to any particular theory, thiseffect is likely because the targeted areas on IRES are highlystructured. The exceptions were HCVd-wt, sh37, sh39, hcv17, which targetthe IRES positions near the HCVa-wt site. These shRNAs caused 85-90%inhibition of HCV IRES dependent gene expression at 1 nM concentration.The low shRNA concentration of 1 nM was chosen to allow easyidentification of hyper-functional shRNAs. If the screening wereperformed at 10 nM shRNA, more shRNAs would display high activity;however, significant nonspecific inhibition was seen at thatconcentration in some cases. Thus, the screening revealed a 44nucleotide region (positions 331-374 on the HCV IRES) where fiveoverlapping shRNAs display high activity.

Example 6 Effect of Single Base Mismatches on shRNA Activity

It is desirable that a treatment for HCV be effective against mutatedHCV. To determine the performance of the RNAs described herein in thisregard (e.g., shRNAs targeting HCV IRES), and to address whetheroff-target effects are problematic, the sensitivity of selected shRNAdirected against HCV IRES to point mutations in the target sequence wastested. For these experiments, a C340U mutation was introduced in theHCV IRES using the QuikChange® II Site-Directed Mutagenesis Kit(Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.). Of the 27 shRNAs that were assayed, ninetargeted the mutated region (FIG. 11), therefore their activity couldtheoretically be affected by this mutation. All of these shRNAs wereassayed with the mutated version of pHCV, along with selected shRNAstargeting other sites as controls. For all tested shRNAs, activity wasfound to be unaffected or slightly decreased compared to the activity oforiginal, perfectly matched target (FIG. 10).

However, in the replicon system, shRNAs were surprisingly found to beSNP-sensitive (see below).

Example 7 Fine Mapping of Target Sites

Six short 19 base pair shRNAs were designed to target a 44 nucleotidesite near the 3′-terminus of the HCV IRES: three targeting nucleotides331-353 and three targeting nucleotides 354-374. These moleculescontained 10 nucleotide loops and 5′-GG and 3′-UU overhangs. Screeningwas performed to identify of non-overlapping candidates that were mosteffective among those sequences tested for inhibition of HCV expression.All six of the shRNAs tested were able to inhibit activity in the assaysystem. Three of the six shRNAs (sh52, sh53, and sh54) were identifiedas the most effective (FIG. 12). This does not preclude the use of thoseshRNAs that were less effective in a composition, e.g., for treatingHCV, for example as part of a composition that includes more than oneshRNA and/or siRNA.

Example 8 shRNA Design: Effects of Stem Length, Loop Length andSequence, and 3′-Terminus

Additional experiments were performed to test how shRNA design affectsgene silencing activity. HCVa-wt contained a 25 base pair stem with5′-GG and 3′-UU overhangs (which may form non-canonical base pairs) anda ten nucleotide miR-23 loop. To test the importance of these parametersin the effectiveness for inhibition of expression, each of theseparameters was separately varied (FIG. 13A). The microRNA-23 loopsequence was initially selected because it is a naturally occurringsequence (Lagos-Quintana et al., Science, 2001, 293:854-258) and wastherefore unlikely to be toxic. Two alternative ten nucleotide loopswere tested, along with loops of six nucleotides, five nucleotides, andfour nucleotides, each in two versions of a sequence. Neither loop sizenor sequence was found to affect the activity of these 25 base pairshRNAs (FIG. 13B; see FIG. 16A-B for sequences).

Small hairpin RNAs lacking the 3′-UU terminal sequence (single-strandedoverhang) had the same efficacy as the parental shRNA containing thisfeature. Control shRNA with full-length (25 nucleotide) sense but short(13 nucleotide) antisense regions had no activity, confirming theimportance of duplex structure in the targeting sequence. shRNAs havinga 3′-CC instead of 3′-UU terminus (allowing formation of 2 additionalWatson-Crick base pairs) were more effective than HCVa-wt for decreasingHCV expression, but also affected SEAP levels. This nonspecificinhibition could be a consequence of the longer stem (27 base pairs),which can induce genes of the interferon responsive pathway and activateprotein kinase R (PKR). Surprisingly, moving the loop to the other endof the shRNA resulted in a dramatic reduction of activity (15%inhibition at 1 nM instead of 90%). Possible explanations for thiseffect include a shift in the position of Dicer processing (andtherefore the sequence targeted) as well as a different GC content atthe 5′-end.

Because 19 base pair shRNAs were shown to display potency similar to 25base pair shRNA, the effects of loop variations for 19 base pair shRNAswere examined. The results are shown in FIG. 14; see FIG. 16A-B forsequences. Loop sizes of 10, 6, 5, and 4 nucleotides were tested, eachin two sequence versions. Sequences containing all loop sizesdemonstrated the ability to inhibit gene expression. However, incontrast to the results with 25 base pair shRNAs, reduction of loopsize, especially below 5 nucleotides, resulted in reduced activity forthe 19 base pair shRNAs for both loop sequences tested. Loops of atleast 5-6 nucleotides demonstrated the most activity.

Removal of the 3′-UU also resulted in dramatic reduction of activity for19 base pair as well as 20 base pair (but not 25 base pair) shRNAs.Without committing to any particular theory, the 3′-UU and 5′-GG mayform non-canonical base pairs and the overall size of shRNA duplex isimportant such that the duplex cannot be less than 21 base pairs forefficient processing. Thus, for 25 base pair shRNAs, neither the size ofthe loop nor the presence of a 3′-UU matters, whereas these parametersare important for potency of short, e.g., 19 base pair shRNAs. Withoutcommitting to any particular theory, it may be that Dicer binds at thetermini prior to processing and does not “sense” the loop in the case oflonger shRNAs, but for 19 base pair shRNAs the loop is “felt” as Dicer“measures” 19-21 nucleotides from the ends.

Accordingly, it was found that 19 base pair shRNAs can be as potent as25 base pair shRNAs and 19 base pair siRNA. It was also found that someshRNA molecules were active at low concentrations of 0.1-1 nM(“hyper-potent shRNAs.” Other groups typically use 10-25-50-100 nMsiRNA).

These data demonstrate that sequences that do not include a 3′-UU thatare at least 22 base pairs, e.g., 23 base pairs, 24 base pairs, or 25base pairs, can be suitable for inhibition of HCV expression. Similarly,loop size is not critical for shRNAs that are at least 22 base pairs inlength.

Example 9 HCV Replicon System

A number of shRNA and siRNA inhibitors along with negative controls wereused to transfect human hepatocytes (AVA5, a derivative of the Huh7 cellline) stably expressing HCV subgenomic replicons (Blight et al.,Science, 2000, 290:5498), and the amount of HCV expression wasdetermined. A range of concentrations was tested and the concentrationof RNA resulting in 50% inhibition (IC50 or EC50) was determined. IC50sfrom two independent experiments are shown side-by-side in FIG. 15. Theresults generally correlated with the data obtained using the fLuc/IRESsystem in 293 FT cells, with the following differences: (1) 19 base pairshRNAs are more potent than 19 base pair siRNAs in the replicon system,whereas with the reporter system, 19 base pair siRNAs were more potentthan shRNAs; (2) shRNA HCVa-wt with point mutations did not demonstrateactivity in the replicon system, while it was effective in fLuc/IRESreporter system; (3) in general, 25 base pair siRNA and 25 base pairshRNA had less activity than other 19 base pair shRNAs and siRNAstested. In general, the IRES and replicon systems are useful foridentification of candidate sequences. Methods of confirming theefficacy (e.g., for inhibiting expression of HCV in a subject) of aselected shRNA or siRNA can be further tested using methods describedherein and methods known in the art.

Other Embodiments

It is to be understood that while the invention has been described inconjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoingdescription is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of theinvention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Otheraspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of thefollowing claims.

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1-61. (canceled)
 62. A method of inhibiting hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA replication or gene expression in a cell, comprising introducing a small interfering RNA into an HCV-containing cell, wherein the antisense sequence of said small interfering RNA consists of a sequence that recognizes a sequence of 18 to 22 nucleotides within the region depicted in nucleotides 346-367 of SEQ ID NO: 11, wherein said small interfering RNA inhibits HCV RNA replication or gene expression in the cell.
 63. A method according to claim 62, wherein said antisense sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO: 23, and SEQ ID NO:24.
 64. A method according to claim 62, wherein said small interfering RNA is an shRNA.
 65. A method according to claim 62, wherein said small interfering RNA is an siRNA.
 66. A method according to claim 62, wherein said hepatitis C virus is genotype 1a.
 67. A method of treating a hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a mammal, said method comprising administering to said mammal a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a small interfering RNA wherein the antisense sequence of said small interfering RNA consists of a sequence that recognizes a sequence of 18 to 22 nucleotides within the region depicted in nucleotides 346-367 of SEQ ID NO:11, wherein said small interfering RNA inhibits HCV RNA replication or gene expression in said mammal, thereby treating HCV infection in said mammal.
 68. A method according to claim 67, wherein said antisense sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO: 23, and SEQ ID NO:24.
 69. A method according to claim 67, wherein said small interfering RNA is an shRNA.
 70. A method according to claim 67, wherein said small interfering RNA is an siRNA.
 71. A method according to claim 67, wherein said hepatitis C virus is genotype 1a.
 72. A method according to claim 67, wherein said mammal is a human.
 73. A composition comprising a small interfering RNA, wherein the antisense sequence of said small interfering RNA consists of a sequence that recognizes a sequence of 18 to 22 nucleotides within the region depicted in nucleotides 346-367 of SEQ ID NO:11.
 74. A composition according to claim 73, wherein said antisense sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO: 23, and SEQ ID NO:24.
 75. A composition according to claim 73, wherein said small interfering RNA is an shRNA.
 76. A composition according to claim 73, wherein said small interfering RNA is an siRNA.
 77. A composition according to claim 73, wherein said composition is a pharmaceutical composition, said pharmaceutical composition further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
 78. A kit comprising a small interfering RNA, wherein the antisense sequence of said small interfering RNA consists of a sequence that recognizes a sequence of 18 to 22 nucleotides within the region depicted in nucleotides 346-367 of SEQ ID NO:11.
 79. A kit according to claim 78, wherein said antisense sequence of said small interfering RNA is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ NO: 23, and SEQ ID NO:24.
 80. A kit according to claim 78, wherein said small interfering RNA is an shRNA.
 81. A kit according to claim 78, wherein said small interfering RNA is an siRNA. 